SMALL FARMS PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 11

SMALL FARMS PLAN.

FEAR OF COLLAPSE?

THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS.

VALUABLE time lost

Fearing tliat the Government's small farm plan, devised as the main policy measure for the relief of unemployment in New Zealand, is in danger of collapse, efforts are being made in Auckland, to form an association of applicants for holdings, with the idea of assisting the authorities to make the scheme a success. The decision to form an association was reached at a meeting last night, which appointed Mr. A. G. Sainsbury, of Otahuhu, to organise a further meeting of applicants, and in the meantime to write to the Minister of Lands urging him to take immediate action under the terms of the governing legislation.

"There is no doubt," said Mr. Sainsbury, in an interview to-day, "that this plan is apparently collapsing. If that !s the case it will be a tremendous disappointment to us applicants. Taking the' Prime Minister's estimate of 12,000 applications, it is clear these represent the accumulation of applications from the past summer and autumn which have not been dealt with. A man after making,an application naturally eeases to spend time and money developing his future in other directions, trusting that the Government will take prompt action to allocate a holding to him. Farming, it must be remembered, is a seasonal occupation, and farm management prescribes a definite plan of cropping, etc., according to" the season. Therefore the loss of three months is a very serious one for an applicant. We are now at the edge of winter—the idle time on a farm —and this means the loss of potential income. I know one man who estimates his loss at over £100. If we average it at £50, it means, on the Prime Minister's own figures, a loss, of over £500,000."

Mr. Sainsbury added that while the scheme had been "hanging fire," and | the men informed that the Government did not have suitable land available, they were wondering why extensive areas in North Auckland had been parcelled out in large blocks to men who were not unemployed. The unemployed had been advised that that land was not for them. "Not Begging." "The unemployed applicants for areas of land tmder the small farms plan are not begging for any gifts from the Government," said Mr. Sainsbury. "Ministers have made it clear that every penny paid out will be loaded on to the farmlets, the income from which will provide the repayment funds. . Therefore, the applicants meet the Government on a level footing. There is a straight business offer from the Government, and a definite acceptance by the applicants, necessitating reasonably prompt action by the Government. In private life, for failure of this nature, a man would have the right of an action for damages. The Government risks an average of about £300 per settler, secured on the improvements he makes. This represents only £15 a year. The settler risks his future,, worth at least £150 a year. He is therefore entitled to have half the representation on the board of management in Wellington _ and also_ on the various district committees. It is vitally important, both to the nation and to the settler, that every man should succeed." Inspectors Necessary. Mr. Sainsbury said applicants wore entitled to ask what evidence there was that the Government would take up the scheme energetically. The passage of the legislation was not vitally necessary to the scheme. Its chicf usefulness was to give compulsory powers for purchasing and leasing privatelyheld lands. Although some time had passed, the only development had been the determination of the internal administration. He calculated that oneDepartmental officer could inspect and report on ten farmlets a week. _ It would accordingly require the full-time services of 100 officers to settle the 12,000 applicants in three months. Twenty of these officials should operate in Auckland. At present he believed there was only one. t "It would require a total outlay of £3,600,000 to equip 12,000 farmlets, at an average of £300 each," Mr. Sainsbury added. "This makes no. provision for an additional 12,000 applicants that mi«ht come along. At least £5,000,000 ou°ht therefore to he earmarked. This would not be lost money, but practically a secured mortgage. We sincerely hope that the Government will net allow this magnificent plan to break down. It affords a great opportunity to enable a large self-reliant portion of the unemployed to take themselves off the relief fund, and at the same time a valuable asset for the whole nation."